2002 Distinguished Service Award. (News & Trends).

Sacramento-based CPA Michael G. Ueltzen has been awarded CalCPA's highest honor: the 2002 Distinguished Service Award.

"Mike is one of the finest people we have ever had the privilege of working with," says Bruce C. Allen, CalCPA's director of government relations. "We have seen Mike present testimony to the California Legislature and have admired his ability to make complex concepts appear simple and to maintain his cool in contentious situations. He deserves a medal."

Since 1997 Ueltzen has been managing partner with Ueltzen & Company, where he leads the firm's assurance and consulting practice. Before starting his own firm, Ueltzen was managing director of John Waddell & Co., a local Sacramento firm. And from 1970-77 he served as auditor supervisor at Peat, Marwick, Mitchell and Company, CPAs.

Ueltzen is no stranger to serving the profession. He served as CalCPA president from 1996-97 and previous to this position, as vice president and treasurer. Ueltzen has served as chair of the Accounting Principles and Auditing Standards, California Bankers Liaison, Litigation Services, Government Relations and Finance committees. He also was chair of the Professional Accountability and Curriculum Development task forces as well as a member of the Sacramento Chapter's Executive Committee and Board of Directors. He is also that chapter's past president.

Ueltzen has been a faculty member of the national Judicial College and the Federal Judicial Center since 1993.

A member of the AICPA Council from 1992-99, Ueltzen served as chair of the California delegation from 1996-97; and has served on several national committees including the National Steering Committee on the Regulation of the Profession.

In addition to his commitment to the profession, Ueltzen has been dedicated to community service. He has served on California State University, Sacramento's Accounting Advisory Council. Other civic activities include serving on the board, and as president, of the Sacramento Medical Foundation, and president of the Center for Blood Research.

Friend Hal Schultz, a partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers, has known Ueltzen since 1991 when the two served on the Government Relations Committee. "I served on the Executive Committee with him for several years and was first vice president during his term as president. Mike is frequently asked to take on difficult tasks for CalCPA and he always delivers. Recently he effectively led CalCPA's testimony in the Assembly Business and Professions Committee in opposition to a bill that would severely limit the types of services a firm could perform for an audit client. His analysis of issues is always insightful, his preparation is extensive and his energy in service to the profession is boundless."

The award will be presented at the July council meeting.